TORONTO -- Bre-X Minerals Ltd.'s unusual rock-sampling methods were kept from the public while the company was touting a major gold find that didn't exist, according to an investigator's report.

The report was prepared by Toronto-based Forensic Investigative Associates Inc., which Bre-X hired early last year to investigate discrepancies about its supposed Busang gold find in the Indonesian jungle. A summary of the report was released...